Top Things to do in Kailua-Kona
Things to do in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii (HI): The Best Nature & Wildlife Areas
Coffee drinkers will recognize Kona as the source of some of the best beans in the world. Get your blood pumping with a walk along the “Royal Footsteps” waterfront stretch of Alii Drive, or take stargazing to the next level with a nighttime visit to the summit of Mauna Kea. Waterfalls, volcanoes, and soft black sands are just some of the natural features that make Kailua unique. Shimmy your hips at a hula-filled luau, or get an eyeful of native history at the Kamakahonu compound.
Restaurants in Kailua-Kona
1. Kona Cloud Forest
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 175 reviews
Reviewed By renata623 - Los Angeles, United States
Took this nature walk with my teens, sister and her husband. All 5 of us loved it. It was a magical place. Kelly, who guided us so was so passionate about the forest and shared so much with us about the plants, nature and local history. The beauty of this place and it's unique trees and plants make it a must in Kona. This is a very special place to visit.
2. Living Ocean Adventures
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28 reviews
Kona Whale Watching and Sport Fishing Charters--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Year-round, off the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii Recommended by Travel BooksCaptain Tom BottrellLiving Ocean Adventures offers personalized boat charters (six-passengers maximum) with owner-operator Captain Tom Bottrell, a professionally trained marine ecologist and USCG licensed Master since 1977, aboard his Bertram 31' Sportfisherman SPINNER. Captain Tom sailed into Kona in 1975 with Project Jonah to study whales and dolphins, and has been here ever since.
3. Kanaloa Octopus Farm
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 699 reviews
Reviewed By Kermit2010 - Vancouver, Canada
Great for kids and adults (our tour was full and mostly adults) this research facility is working to better understand the full life cycle of octopus and to protect wild stocks. These Indo Pacific octopus are at Kanaloa for breeding purposes and this is 1 of 4 facilities in the world doing similar work. Your 1 hour tour includes an overview of what they do then you move to sinks to scrub your hands and arms up to the elbow because now you are going to interact with the octopuses. They are shy and possibly know that this first part is a bunch of people dabbling their fingers in the water of their tank (each octopus in this area has its own tank). We didn’t get a lot of action in the tanks from this stage of our tour, and Charlie, my octopus, stayed in his cave. Later, we returned to the tanks and cups with bits of crab had been hung on each tank and we were told how to tempt them out of their caves. That was marginally successful for our tour as an arm would whip out of the cave and scoop up the tasty treat. When Charlie actually came out to fetch a treat, he retreated back to his cave so quickly he upset his cave and retreated as far as he could into his cockeyed cave propped up on the side of his tank. When some of our group filtered out of the facility, that was when we started to get some action. Ringo began performing, sitting on top of his cave, wrapping his delicate tentacles around our hands and grabbing our little underwater camera. Chili pepper swiftly changed colours when someone put a red underwater camera in her tank, and Emma squirted in response to someone putting a camera in her tank. We hated to leave but our hour was up. A fun and informative experience for all ages. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour. Kanaloa is in their 2nd location and moving to another facility next month. Support this initiative and the work they are doing by visiting - but be sure to reserve ahead as tours are popular and ours was full so walk ins had to be turned away.
4. Pu'u Wa'awa'a Forest Reserve
5. Painted Trees of Hawaii
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
6. Pu'u Wa'awa'a Cinder Cone State Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
